This archive report was first published on 7 October 2021.
Kenya Airways has taken advantage of the recent removal of Kenya from the UK's red list to introduce three new flights to London. The move is expected to boost tourism in the country, which has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the new regulations, fully vaccinated travelers from Kenya are allowed to enter the UK without taking COVID-19 tests. The airline will operate flights every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, starting October 11, 2021.
The cost of a round trip from Nairobi to London will be Sh 88,775, while a traveler from the UK will pay Sh 113,140. The rates from Mombasa and Kisumu to London are Sh 104,370 and Sh 104,080, respectively.
Kenya was removed from the red list alongside Bangladesh, Egypt, the Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Turkey. The move is expected to revive the tourism sector, which had seen massive booking cancellations due to the pandemic.
According to a report published in June 2020, the tourism sector had experienced significant losses due to the pandemic. The report recommended that Kenya expand its domestic market to cushion the destination in times of crisis.
UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps had earlier announced that the country would ease travel regulations, allowing fully vaccinated travelers from non-red countries to enter England without taking pre-departure tests.
"We're making testing easier for travel from Mon 4 Oct, if you're fully vaccinated you won't need a pre-departure test before arrival into England from a non-red country and from later in Oct, will be able to replace the day 2 PCR test with a cheaper lateral flow," Shapps said.
